Firebolt (The Dragonian Series)(43)

I tried to push Lucian to the back of my mind, but struggled.

Sammy and Becky came into the room a little while later.

“What's up, Elena?” Becky stood with her arms folded,and I knew I wasn’t getting off the hook that easily.

“It doesn't matter, Becky.” I picked up my brush and pulled my hair up in my famous ponytail.

“Lucian is asking if he did something wrong.” She just kept talking as if she didn't hear my reply. “Is it about what I said this morning?”

“No, Becky, just leave it, please.”

“Elena, come on, I can see something is bothering you,” she said.

“It's not that, okay, just leave it.”

“Oh my word, it's Arianna, isn't it?” Sammy gave an I-don't-believe-this-crap giggle.

“It's Arianna?” Becky asked confused. “Elena, what did she say?”

“It doesn't matter, she's right. Lucian is royalty, Becky, and I'm not.” My voice broke, and my hands somehow found the top of my head. This was so wrong. Why couldn't he choose who he wanted to be with?

Becky paced up and down. Her lips pressed hard in a thin line.

“Don't listen to her,Elena. She’s always had a thing for Lucian and my brother. Believe me;she’s been trying her luck with both of them. Don't let her get under your skin.” Sammy folded her arm around my shoulder.

“He's royalty. Someone is going to get hurt in the end, and I know it's me.”

“If Lucian finds out about this, she’s going to see her ass.” Becky fiddled with her necklace.

“Don't tell him, please.” I hated confrontations.

“Fine, one condition,” Becky said, and stopped pacing. “You forget what she said.”

“Becky?” I sighed.

She lifted her index finger for me to stop.

“She scares the living crap out of me!” I yelled fast.

Both girls laughed.

“Elena, she's got a big mouth, that's it. She's just like Tabitha.”

“Sammy's right.” Becky came over and hugged me too.

The bell rang and we were forced to head back to class.

We still had a full hour of Arts of War left, and I wasn't in the mood to fight with a sword, pretending to be the greatest gladiator that ever lived.

Unfortunately, Professor Mia had the opposite idea and drilled me even harder. I slouched to my room, stumbled into the shower, and fell onto my bed. I’d shut my eyes for only a couple of seconds when Sammy stormed in.

“Elena, what are you doing?”

“What?” I said, sleepy, and looked at the clock. Somehow,I’d dozed off until four o'clock. Becky was about to claim George. I jumped up, slipped on my flip-flops, and darted for the coliseum.

Goose pimplescovered my entire body as we neared. I couldn't believe that I’d almost missed it.

When I heard loud cheers and chants, I made a run for it. I gasped as I saw how packed it was. There were other people beside the students and professors sitting in the stands, and I finally understood how big of an event this was. Thankfully nothing had happened yet.

George threw a show for the crowd. He ran up and down the sides where all the dragons sat, touching the hands of the people he passed. Loud music boomed through the coliseum, and he ripped off his T-shirt. The girls screamed wildly.

I had to admit, he was very muscular, with an eight pack bulging from his stomach.

I still hated his arrogance. The Chromatic dragons cheered the loudest and instructed him to show Becky what he was made of.

“They're wasting their time,” Sammy said in a singing tone. She led me to the side where all of the Dragonians sat.

“Why?”

“That down there is Dr. Jekyll, and Mr. Hyde will come out in a couple of minutes.”

I understood that analogy and should've known that she would take me straight to Lucian's seat.

He seemed agitated as he stared over at the small entrance where Becky would emerge.

Arianna's words were still fresh in my mind, making me fidget.

“Aren't you supposed to be on the other side?” A girl with short mousy blonde hair twittered at Sammy.

“Oh, bite me,” she snapped back, and squished through to the only two empty chairs in the row, right next to Lucian. She took the first one and forced me to sit down next to him.

I stared at the crowd, anywhere but him.

“Are you okay?” he asked, finally looking at me.

I gave him an assuring smile, and he gave me a quick kiss on my temple. His hand folded over my leg. He smelled amazing, but by his clenched jaw and his firm grasp around my leg, I could tell he was uptight.

“Where's Becky?” I stretched my neck to see if I couldn't spot her somewhere.

“She's still inside going over some strategies with Mia.” He called the professor by her first name.